Reperforator



Dec. 27, 1949 J. A. SPENCER ET AL. 2,492,503

REPERFORATOR Filed Feb. 15, 1947- 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 27, 1949 J, ASPENCER ET AL 2,492,503

REPERFORATOR File'd Feb. l5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 o o .ogoogoggogogoooog 5y oo oo oo o o o AA A A AA A AA 'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA'Aai vjjvv vv vv v v V Patented Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEREPERFORATOR James A. Spencer, Teaneck, N. J., and Thomas J.

Merson, Hollis, and Lewis A. Thomas, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to RadioCorporation of America, a corporation oiv Delaware Application February15, 1947, Serial No. 728,850

Y 7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to telegraph apparatus and mechanisms and moreparticularly to an improved method of recording received telegraph codeimpulses on a perforated tape.

In modern telegraph practice it is frequently advantageous to storereceived code signals in a perforated paper tape in order thatre-transmission may be accomplished at a later time. Devices of thiskind are referred to as reperfurators. This reperforator is designedprimarily for reception of Morse signals transmitted approximatelysynchronously, but it will also reproduce accurately non-synchronoussignals transmitted at a rate lower than the regularsignalling speed,such as when lbreaks are inserted by hand in an automatic transmissionsequence.

In the present practice perforators of this type require a complicatedsystem of cams operated by a motor for differentiating between dots anddashes. The Creed reperforator described in Harrisons Printing TelegraphSystems, page 208, is an example of this type of reperforator.

The perforator provided by this invention does not require such cams ormotor since it is required to recognize or perforate only the start andend of a marking signal. The perforator punches feed holes as well ascode holes. Accordingly, it requires no specially prepared tape, butwill operate with a standard transmitting tape.

It is an object of this invention to provide a reperforator which willperforate a tape directly from received signals having mark and spaceelements.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a reperforator ofthe type described in which the mechanical parts have been reduced to aminimum.

Briefly, in accordance with the invention, the incoming signals areutilized to produce negative and positive pulses during the transitionsfrom mark to space and space to mark, respectively. A local source ofoscillations synchronized with the incoming signals is utilized toactuate the perforator and the pulses produced during the transitionperiods are utilized to actuate the proper mark or space punch of theperforator.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent upon a consideration of the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanyin drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 represents schematically a preferred embodiment of the inventionfor producing the controlled potentials for actuating the perforator,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of one form of perforator foruse with the chosen embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 3 represents the time occurrence of the actuating pulses and theform of the tape produced therefrom.

Referring to Fig. 1, means have been provided so that the device willoperate from an electrical or electronic source of keyed signals. Thuswhen a keyed-tone signal is being received, a tone signal converter, notshown, is used and its output is fed to the SIG terminal and switch I4is thrown to the SIG position. When an external polar relay is provided,switch I4 is thrown to the EXT relay position.

A polar relay A23, together with its associated components, resistors24, 25 and 26 and capacitors 29, form an oscillating circuit known asthe Gulstad relay. This is a circuit old in the art Whose frequency ofoscillation can be controlled, up to the speed capacity of the relayitself, by varying the values of resistors 26 and capacitors 29. Thecoil of a second polar relay 21 is inserted in series with theoscillating circuit so that this relay will oscillate in synchronismwith relay 23 and, as will appear, certain further functions can beperformed Without affectingthe oscillating circuit.

Whenever the tongue of relay 21 is held to the right-hand terminal,capacitor 3| will charge to approximately full positive value throughresistor 28. When the tongue of relay 2'I swings to the left, the energystored in the capacitor 3| is discharged through the coil of relay 3,closing relay 3 momentarily. Thus relay 3 is closed once for everyoscillation of relay 23.

The signals applied to the SIG terminal are fed through an electronicdischarge device I2, the output of which is utilized to control a polarrelay I3. The polar relay I3 is phased so that for every marking signalthe tongue of relay I3 will be connected to the positive voltage throughresistor I5, and for every spacing signal the tongue will be connectedto the negative voltage through resistor I6.

Whenever the tongue of relay I3 is positive, a conductive path is formedthrough resistor I5, capacitor I1, rectifier I8 and the coil of relay Ito ground. Capacitor I1 rapidly becomes charged so that the currentthrough relay I is merely an impulse tending to close relay Imomentarily at the beginning of every marking signal. It will be seenthat the rectifier I8 con- When the tongue of relay I3 is positive, aparallel path is set up through resistor I5, capacitor I9 and rectifier20 and a coil 22 of relay 2.3 to ground. The rectifier is so vconnectedthat at the beginning of every marking signal the pulses produced acrosscapacitor I9 will lbe sent r through coil 22. The coil 22 ismagnetically coupled to the relay 23 in the proper phase to tend tospeed up the oscillating frequency of relay 23 by a slight amount. Sincethe relay 23 is normally adjusted to have a speed of oscillationslightly less than the dot repetition rate of oscillation, the closureof 4relay 3 will occur simultaneously or slightly after the closure ofrelay I. The reason for this action will be seen presently.

Switch 39 is varranged so that the oscillating frequency of relay v23can be set to correspond with the dot repetition rate of the incomingsignal, with no correction applied, and then, with the application ofcorrection, the frequency of oscillation is automatically reduced aslight amount, this intentional diierence being taken care of by thecorrection. This feature allows for a certain amount of variation in thespeed of the incoming signal due to the use of nonsynchronous motors intransmission.

The mechanical action of the reperforator will be described inconnection with Fig. 2. Relays I, 2 and 3 have contacts which are ineiiect parallel switches on the operating circuit of the solenoid orpunch magnet 9. Thus, solenoid 9 is energized with the closure of any ofthe relays I, 2 or .3. Solenoid 9 swings punch block `III forwardagainst the end of punch pins which are driven through the tape 32. Thecenter hole pins 8 are arranged to be operated with every operation ofsolenoid 9. The top or mark hole pin 6 is operated whenever the vane 4is interposed between the block I9 and the end of pin 6. Vane 4 isactuated by a mechanical linkage with the armature of relay I. Thus themark pin 5 Will be .operated whenever relay I is energized. In orderthat the punch block Il) not operate before vane 4 is selected, therelay 3, as described above, is made to operate slightly later thanrelay I.

A similar linkage from the armature of relay 2 interposes vane 5 betweenthe block IU and the end of the bottom hole or space pin 'I. A slightdelay in the sequence of operation of relays 2 and 3 is provided for inthe same manner `as that between the operation of relays I and 3. Inorder that the tape will be punched as standard Morse Wheatstone tape,both the relative positions of the four punch pins and the operation ofthe tape advance are important. As is clearly shown in Figure 2 by thearrangement of the guide holes, 38, .39, 40, for the punch pins in thetape guide 4 I, the center hole pins 8 are arranged in horizontalalignment; the mark pin 6 is disposed above and in vertical alignmentwith one of said center hole pins; and the space pin I is disposed belowand in vertical alignment with the other of said center hole pins.

After each operation .of relay I or 3, extractionv of the punch pinsfrom the tape is accomplished by means of springs, not shown. A standardwheel and pawl mechanism II advances the tape one center hole. Anadditional mechanical linkage on the armature or relay 2 is provided todisable the tape advance mechanism I I whenever relay 2 is operated.This provision is made because of the fact that the distance between thecenter holes of the tape is equal to one keying cycle or two bauds. Theend of the mark always occurs at an odd number of bauds later than thestart of mark, or between times of tape advance, and each start of markoccurs an even number of bauds after the previous start of mark. Thus,by the proper positioningcfv the punch pins and the proper operation ofthe tape advance, standard Morse Wheatstone tape is punched from theincoming signal.

The operation of the device may best be understood upon a considerationof Fig. 3; in which, there is represented a line a, three letters RCA ofa code group followed .by an interval representative of the .spacingbetween code groups which in turn is followed by the letter T. Line brepresents the pulses, producedby the circuit shown in Fig. l, whichoperate relay I As has been described, these pulses will be produced .atthe start of every mark signal. Line c represents the pulsesproducedfrom the local oscillatorcircuit which operatesrelay number 3.Line d represents the pulses produced at the .end of the mark .signalwhich, as has been described, operate relay number 2.

Thus, at the start of the code signal representative of the letter R,the local oscillator generates a pulse which will energize relay number3 and at the beginning of the mark signal a pulse will be produced whichwill energize relay number I The energization of relays I and 3 resultsin the punch block perforating feed holes 33 and 34 and the mark hole`35. Upon the withdrawal of the punch pins, the .tape will be advancedone space. At the end of the mark signal, which in the assumed case wasa dot and would occur one dot interval later, relay 2 would be energizedcausing the cperation of the center hole pin 3 and the space pin 1. Thisresults in the perforation of feed hole andspace hole 3I. Duringthis-operation the tape advance mechanism will be deenergized and thetape will not be advanced. The remainder of the code signals will beperforated in a similar sequence of operations with the dots, dashes andintervals being represented by various spacings produced by combinationsof relays I and 3, 2 and 3 or only 3.

If a radical change speed takes place in the transmission, such as theinsertion of "breaks by hand, the reperforator will faithfully reproducethe signal to the nearest center hole, since the punch of the centerhole occurs at a constant rate or during long marking or spacingsignals. Having described our invention, what we claim 1s:

l. A perforator comprising, in combination, a feed hole punch, a markpunch, a space punch, a punch block, holes in said punch block, saidholes being in alignment With said mark and space punches wherebymovement of said punch block causes operation of only said feed holepunch, means interposable between said mark punch and the correspondinghole in said punch block whereby movement of said punch block actuatesboth said feed hole and mark punches, means interposable between saidspace punch and the corresponding hole in said punch block wherebyvmovement of said punch block actuates said center hole and spacepunches, a tape arranged to be perforated by said punches when saidpunches are actuated, a tape advance mechanism normally arranged toadvance said tape uponeach actuation of said punch block and meansarranged to disengage said tape advance mechanism when said space punchis actuated.

2. Electrical apparatus comprising, in combination, a source of codesignals, a local source of oscillations, means independent of saidsource of oscillations for producing a positive pulse upon thetransition of said signals from space to mark and a negative pulseduring the transition ofjsaid signals from mark to space, a first relayactuated by said positive pulse, a second relay actuated by saidnegative pulses, a third relay actuated under the control of said localsource of oscillations, means for synchronizing said local source ofoscillations with said signals, a punch block actuated upon theenergization of any of said relays, a first punch, a second punch, athird punch, said punch block normally actuating only said first punch,means actuated by said first relay causing said punch block to actuateboth said first and second punches, means actuated by said second relaycausing said punch block to actuate said first and third punches, atape, said tape being arranged to be perforated by said punches, a tapeadvance mechanism normally arranged to advance said tape upon eachactuation of said punch block. and means controlled by said second relayfor disengaging said tape advance when said first and third punches areactuated.

3. Electrical apparatus comprising, in combination, a source of codesignals having mark and space elements, a local source of oscillations,switching means independent of said source of oscillations for producinga positive potential during mark elements and a negative potentialduring spacing elements of said signals, means for producing a positivepulse upon lthe transition of said signals from space to mark and anegative pulse during the transition of said signals from mark to space,a first relay actuated by said positive pulse, a second relay actuatedby said negative pulse, a third relay actuated under the control of saidlocal source of oscillations, means for synchronizing said local sourceof oscillations with said signals, a perforator comprising incombination a feed hole punch, a mark punch, a space punch, a punchblock actuated upon energization of any of said relays, holes in saidpunch block, said holes being in alignment with said mark and spacepunches whereby movement of said punch block causes Voperation of onlysaid feed hole punch, means actuated by said first relay interposablebetween said mark punch and the corresponding hole in said punch blockwhereby movement of said punch block actuates both said feed hole andmark punches, means actuated by said second relay interposable betweensaid space punch and the corresponding hole in said punch block wherebymovement of said punch block actuates said center hole and spacepunches, a tape arranged to be perforated by said punches when saidpunches are actuated, a tape advance mechanism'normally arranged toadvance said tape upon each actuation of said punch block and meansarranged to disengage said tape advance mechanism when said space punchis actuated.

4. Electrical apparatus comprising in combination a source of codesignals having mark and space elements, a local source of oscillations,switching means independent of said source of during mark elements and anegative potential during spacing elementsl of said signals, a condenserconnected to said switching means, one side of said condenser beingarranged to be charged by said potentials whereby pulses of current willflow across said condenser, said pulses being positive at the start of amark signal and negative at the end of a mark signal, a first relayactuated by said positive pulse, a second relay actuated by saidnegative pulses, a third relay actuated under the control of said localsource of oscillations, means for synchronizing said local source ofoscillations with said signals, a perforator comprising, in combination,a feed hole punch, a mark punch, a space punch, a punch block actuatedupon energization of any of said relays, holes in said punch block, saidholes being in alignment with said mark and space punches wherebymovement of said punch block causes operation of only said feed holepunch, means actuated by said first relay interposable between said markpunch and the corresponding hole in said punch block whereby movement ofsaid punch block actuates both said feed hole and mark punches, meansactuated by said second relay interposable between said space punch andthe corresponding hole in said punch block whereby movement of saidpunch block actuates said center hole and space punches, a tape arrangedto be perforated by said .punches when said punches are actuated, a tapeadvance mechanism normally arranged to advance said tape upon eachactuation of said punch block and means arranged to disengage said tapeadvance mechanism when said space punch is actuated.

5. Electrical apparatus comprising, in combination, a source of codesignals having mark and space elements, a first polar relay forproducing local oscillations of adjustable frequency, the frequency ofsaid oscillations being adjusted to a period slightly below thedotfrequency of said signals, a second polar relay connected in serieswith the oscillating circuit of said first polar relay whereby saidfirst and second relays oscillate in synchronism, switching meansincluding a third switching means independent of said first polar relayfor producing a positive potential during mark elements and a negativepotential during spacing elements of said signals, means for producing apositive ipulse upon the transition of said signals from space to markand a negative pulse upon the transition of said signals from mark tospace, a first relay actuated by said positive pulse, a second relayactuated by said negative pulses, an oscillating tongue actuated by saidsecond polar relay, a second condenser connected between saidoscillating tongue and ground, a source of operating potential, asolenoid actuating relay, said oscillating tongue being arranged toconnect said second condenser alternately to said potential and to saidsolenoid actuating relay, means for synchronizing said local source ofoscillations with said signals, a perforator comprising, in combination,a feed hole punch, a mark punch, a space punch, a

.punch block actuated upon energization of any of said first, second orsolenoid relays, holes in said punch block, said holes being inalignment with said mark and space punches whereby movement of saidpunch block causes operation of only said feed hole punch, meansactuated by said first relay interposable between said mark punch andthe corresponding hole in said punch block whereby movement of saidpunch block actuates oscillations for producing a positive potentialboth said feed hole and mark punches, means actuated by said secondrelayinterp'osable between said space punch and the corresponding holein said punch block whereby movement of said punch block actuates saidcenter hole and space punches, a tape arranged to be perforated by saidpunches when said punches are actuated, a tape advance mechanismnormally arranged to advance said tape upon each actuation of said punchblock and means arranged to disengage said tape advance mechanism whensaid space punch is actuated.

6. Electrical apparatus comprising, in combination, a source of codesignals, having mark and space elements, a first polar relay forproducing local oscillations of adjustable frequency, the frequency ofsaid oscillations being adjusted to a period slightly below the dotfrequency of said signals, a second lpola-r relay connected in serieswith the oscillating circuit of said first polar relay whereby saidfirst and second polar relays oscillate in synchronism, switching meansincluding a third polar relay actuated by said signals for producing apositive potential during mark signals and a negative potential duringspacing signals, a first condenser connected to said switching means,one side of said condenser being arranged to be charged by saidpotentials whereby pulses of current will now across said condenser,said pulses being positive at the start of a mark signal and negative atthe end of a mark signal, a mark relay, a first rectifier having itsanode connected to the other side of said condenser and its cathodeconnected to said mark relay, a space relay, a second rectifier havingits cathode connected to said other side of said conenser and its anodeconnected to said space relay, an oscillating tongue actuated by saidsecond polar relay, a second condenser connected between saidoscillating tongue and ground, a source of operating potential, asolenoid actuating relay, said oscillating tongue being arranged toconnect said second condenser alternately to said potential and to saidsolenoid actuating relay, a .phasing coil on said rst polar relay, saidcoil being arranged to slightly increase the frequency of said firstpolar relay, a third condenser connected between said switching meansand said phasing coil, a third rectifier connected between said coil andground whereby pulses are produced in said phasing coil at the start ofa mark signal, a solenoid actuated by said solenoid actuating relay, afeed hole punch, a mark punch, a space punch, a punch block operated bysaid solenoid, holes in said punch block, said holes being in alignmentwith said mark and space punches whereby movement of said punch blocknormally causes operation of only said feed hole punch, a first vaneoperated by said mark relay arranged to be interposed between said markpunch and the corresponding hole in said punch block whereby upon theactuation of said mark relay and said solenoid both said mark and feedhole punches are actuated, a second vane operated by said space relayarranged to be interposed between said space punch and the correspondinghole in said punch block whereby upon actuatonvof said space relay andsaid solenoid both said feed hole and said space punches are actuated, atape, said tape being arranged to be perforated by said punches whensaid punches are actuated, a tape advance mechanism normally arranged toadvance said tape upon each actuation of said punch block, and a linkagebetween said space relay and said tape advance arranged to disengagesaid tape advance during actuation of said space punch, whereby saidtape is not advanced.

7. Electrical apparatus comprising in combination a source of codesignals having mark and space elements, a polar relay for producinglocal oscillations of adjustable frequency, the frequency of saidoscillations being adjusted to a period, slightly below the dotfrequency of said signals, switching means independent of said polarrelay for producing a positive potential during mark elements .and anegative potential during spacing elements of said signals, means forproducing a positive pulse upon the transition of said signals fromspace to mark and a negative pulse during the transition of said signalsfrom mark to space, a rst relay actuated by said positive pulse, asecond relay actuated by said negative pulse, a third relay actuatedunder the control of said source of oscillations, means forsynchronizing said localsource of oscillations with said signals, aperforator comprising in combination a feed hole punch, a mark punch, aspace punch, a punch block actuated upon energization of any of saidrelays, holes in said punch block, said holes being in alignment withsaid mark and space punches whereby movement of said punch block causesoperation of only said feed hole punch, means actuated by said firstrelay interposable between said mark punch and the corresponding hole insaid punch block whereby movement of said punch block actuates both saidfeed hole and mark punches, means actuated by said second relayinterposable between said space punch and the corresponding hole in saidpunch block whereby movement of said punch block actuates said centerhole and space punches, a tape arranged to be perforated by said puncheswhen said punches are actuated, a tape advance mechanism normallyarranged to advance said tape upon each actuation of said punch blockand vmeans arranged to disengage said tape advance mechanism when saidspace punch is actuated.

JAMES A. SPENCER. THOMAS J. MERSON. LEWIS A. THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 702,339 Brown June 10, 19021,150,326 Armand Aug. 17, 1915 1,350,193 Whitney Aug. 17, 1920 1,881,758Longland Oct. 11, 1932

